Cyanide Analysis: Cyanide Chemistry,

Methodology, Interferences,

Sample Handling and

Regulatory Updates

Distribution of the Industrial Uses of CN

Who is measuring cyanide?

•NPDES

• Pretreatment

• SDWA

• Industrial hygiene

• Foods

•Beverages

•Mining

•Manufacturing

A generalized summary of cyanide and it’s metal

– cyanide species

• Transition metals - strong bonds

• Alkali metals - ionic bonds :C≡N

Free Cyanide is the CN ion and HCN, generate

HCN at pH 6

Metal Complexes require acid to generate HCN

Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Ag

Strong Metal Complexes are stable in acid

solution

Iron Cyanide Complexes are very stable in the

environment

[Fe(CN)6]-3 + H+

6 HCN + Fe+3

Toxicity of Cyanide Complexes is related to its

ability to produce HCN

Cyanide methods measure the various

cyanide “species”

Total

CN

Strong Metal Complexes

Fe, Co, Pt, Au

Available

CN

Weak to Moderately

Strong Metal Complexes

Ag, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn

Free

CN

HCN

CN-

Cyanide methods measure the various cyanide

“species”

How Do You Measure Cyanide?

Gas diffusion - Amperometry

HCN

CN-

Membrane

Sulfide > 50 ppm

Titration by silver ion

Ion Selective Electrode (ISE)

S-2

Colorimetric methods

Turbidity

Manual “distillation” is used to dissociate as

HCN

Macro Distillation MIDI

Distillations

Distillation can be automated on a continuous

flow analyzer

Distillate

Distillation and

condenser

Cyanide Methods

Cyanide methods require separation

of CN from matrix

• Separated from interferences,

cyanide measurement is no different

than running standards.

APPROVED METHODS

Free CN GD-

Amperometry

ASTM D7237

WAD CN Distillation/

Colorimetry

ASTM D2036 or

SM4500

CATC Distillation/

Colorimetry

ASTM D2036 or

SM4500

Available CN GD-

Amperometry

OIA 1677 or

ASTM D6888

Unlike colorimetry, GD amperometry

is easy to visualize

• CN- + H+ HCN

• HCN + OH- CN- + H2O

• Ag + 2CN- Ag(CN)2

- + e-

measure

Aquatic Free Cyanide Analysis

ASTM D7237-06 can be run on a

OIA1677 CNSolution analyzer

Buffer

Same Cartridge as OIA 1677

WAD Cyanide methods measure “available

cyanide”

Available Cyanide Analysis

WAD Cyanide methods measure “available

cyanide”

Ligand Exchange methods measure

available cyanide

Method

Number Description Measurement

OIA 1677

Ligand

Exchange / Flow

Injection

Analysis

Gas Diffusion -

Amperometry

ASTM D 6888

Ligand

Exchange / Flow

Injection

Analysis

Gas Diffusion -

Amperometry

GD-amperometry methods do not

require distillation

OIA 1677 or ASTM D6888 flow diagram

Acid Reagent

Ligand Exchange GD-amperometry

methods have fewer interferences

CATC WAD OIA 1677

N-organics Excessive

Iron Cyanide None

SCN,NH3,NO2

Concentration

Dependent —

S2O3, H2O2 — —

Concentration

Dependent — —

Ligand Exchange GD-amperometry

methods provide the best benefits

• No distillation (eliminates 1 – 4 hours

preliminary sample treatment)

• Low MDL (0.5 ppb)

• No Interferences

• High Throughput

(up to 90 samples per hour)

• Ease of Operation, very simple

chemistry.

Total Cyanide Methods

Automated gas diffusion distillation and non-

distillation methods

Total Cyanide Methods – Manual Distillation

Method Number Description Measurement

SM 4500-CN C Manual Macro Distillation –

Mg Cl2

Manual colorimetry /

ISE

ASTM D 2036 Manual Macro Distillation –

MgCl2

Manual colorimetry,

ISE, GD-amperometry,

IC

EPA 335.4 Midi Distillation – MgCl2 Automated

Colorimetry

ASTM D 7284 Midi / Micro Distillation –

MgCl2

Gas Diffusion -

Amperometry

Automated total cyanide methods use UV to liberate HCN from Fe

Descriptive

Name

Method

Number Description Measurement

Total Cyanide

ASTM D4374

(Kelada 01)

High power UV-

Auto distillation

Alkaline pH

Automated

colorimetry

EPA 335.3

Low power UV-

Auto distillation

pH <2

Automated

Colorimetry

OIA

1678/ASTM

D7511

Low power UV-

pH <2

Gas Diffusion -

Amperometry

Comparison of Kelada and OIA 1678

Kelada 01 ASTM D7511

Pump Tubes 15 5

Reagents Pyridine No Pyridine

Distillation Yes No

SCN

Interaction 0.25 – 0.5 % 0.01 – 0.03 %

Comparison of Total CN methods

335.4 ASTM

D7284

ASTM

D7511

Sample

Preparation

2 – 3 hour

distillatio

n

1 – 3 hour

distillation

No

distillation

Analysis 1 – 2

minutes

1 – 2

minutes

1 – 2

minutes

Total Time 3 – 4

hours

2 – 4 hours 1 – 2

minutes

Advantages - CNSolution 3100

Total Cyanide

Distillation/

Colorimetry EPA 335.4

Distillation / GD-

Amperometry ASTM D7284

No Distillation /

GD-

Amperometry

OIA 1678

(ASTM D7511-09)

One Instrument – multiple methods

How do you solve interference problems caused

by distillation?

?

Replace distillation with gas diffusion

HCN

CN-

Membrane

Distillation most common technique

to remove interference

Macro Distillation MIDI

Distillations

Many cyanide interferences result from

distillation

• Destroy CN • Create CN • UV distillation colorimetry - worst

Distillation actually creates CN

interferences

• Boiling acid

• Automated UV-Distillation – Boiling acid

Interferences –

Thiosulfate reacts with cyanide

during distillation

• 0.200 mg/L CN- + 200 mg/L S2O3-2

– Cyanide Found = 0.160 mg/L

– Recovery = 80%*

– * Double Chloramine T added, or

recovery would be lower.

These compounds are in almost every sample

and interfere significantly

Thiocyanate + Nitrate results in

positive bias

• The addition of Sulfamic acid

does not sufficiently reduce this

interference.

– A real POTW sample with 0.1 mg/L SCN-

and 63.5 mg/L NO3- detected total CN- at

0.10 mg/L even after the addition of

Sulfamic Acid

Interferences – Thiocyanate

Interferences – Thiocyanate and Nitrate

Sulfite reacts rapidly with CN in

basic solutions

• 0.200 mg/L CN- + 200 mg/L SO3-2

– Cyanide Found = 0.000 mg/L

– Recovery = 0%

• This reaction occurs in absorber solution, or in

preserved sample

Interferences – Thiosulfate

Interferences – Sulfite

Interferences – Sulfur Compounds

• No Spot Tests

• Dechlorination

Sulfur compounds react rapidly with

CN

• Elemental Sulfur – 8CN- + S8 SCN-

• Metal Sulfides – Cu2S, FeS, PbS, CuFeS2, CdS,

ZnS, etc.

– S reacts with CN- to form SCN-

Holding Time Study – Sulfide Bearing Samples

Cannot use Cadmium to Treat Sulfide

Headspace to Treat Sulfide

Bismuth to Treat Sulfide then distillation

Oxidizers destroy cyanide before or

during distillation

• Hypochlorite

• Peroxide

• Caro’s Acid

• Chloramines

Oxidizer Removal

Ligand Exchange GD-amperometry

methods get better recovery

OIA 1677 CATC WAD

Cyanide methods that utilize distillation

have significant disadvantages

• Time Consuming

– One hour long distillation (does not take

into account setup and teardown)

– CATC requires two, one hour

distillations

• Bulky and Relatively Expensive Glassware

• Operator-dependent results (technique)

• Multiple Interferences

GD-amperometry provides the safest,

easiest, and most accurate technique

Acid Reagent

ASTM D7284-08 is a “green” chemistry

No pyridine

CNSolution 3100

• Rapidly Analyze Cyanide with Confidence in Results

– Free Cyanide

– Available Cyanide

– Total Cyanide

• Eliminate Time Consuming, Error Causing Distillations

• Expand Capability to Colorimetric FIA and SFA

Gas diffusion eliminates distillation

and associated cost

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Dollars per

Year

Consumables + labor

per year

MicroDist

Midi Dist

CNSolution

Lowest cost

Eliminating distillation increases

laboratory capacity

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800Sa

mp

les

per

8 h

ou

r Sh

ift

Midi Dist

Micro Dist

CNSolution

Highest sample

capacity

Ligand Exchange GD-amperometry

methods give you results in minutes

CATC WAD OIA 1677

Sample

Preparation

2

distillations

2 – 3 hours

1 distillation

2 – 3 hours

No

distillation

Analysis 1 – 2

minutes 1 – 2 minutes 1 – 2 minutes

Total Time 3 – 4 hours 3 – 4 hours 1 – 2 minutes

Ligand Exchange GD-amperometry

methods means more samples

0

20

40

60

80

100

Sa

mp

les p

er h

ou

r

Distillation

Diffusion

90 samples per

hour

The CNSolution is your solution to

cyanide analysis

• Gas diffusion amperometry methods: – Save time

– Save money

– Are more accurate

– Have fewer interferences

– Are “green”

• The CNSolution = the FS3100

– Change to a photometric detector and run any

colorimetric chemistry

The CNSolution 3100 available cyanide

system

The CNSolution 3100 total cyanide

system

UV irradiation

OIA 1677 - CNSolution

Gas Diffusion and Mixing

Detector

Flow-cell

Flow Solution 3100

• Flow Injection Analyzer

– Colorimetric detector added it becomes

the FS 3100 FIA analyzer

– All FS 3100 methods

• NO3-N

• NH3-N

• PO4

• TKN

A high quality peristaltic pump

Separate module, individual channels, long

pump tube life.

A random access xyz sampler

• Integrated

circulating wash

station

• 90 or 360 positions

• Separate standard

and QC vials

Winflow software provide accurate

quantitation of CN results

The CNSolution 3100 is accurate,

and cost effective

• Rapidly analyze cyanide

• Eliminate time consuming error

causing distillations

• Expand capability to colorimetric FIA

and SFA

ASTM D7511 is easy to understand

and operate and does not distill.

“Green” Chemistry

No pyridine

GD-Amperometry Equivalent to Colorimetry

Estimated Reagent and Consumable Cost

per Analysis for Distillation (US Dollars)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8D

ollars

Midi-Dist MICRO DIST CNSolution

Estimated Labor (in minutes) Required to

Distill 20 Samples for Analysis

0

50

100

150

200

250

Midi-dist MICRO DIST CNSolution

Estimated Annual Labor Cost to Distill and Analyze

40 Samples per Month (Including Overhead)

$0.00

$1,000.00

$2,000.00

$3,000.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

$6,000.00

$7,000.00

Midi Dist MICRO DIST CNSolution

Assume tech pay at

$15/hour

Estimated Annual Cost for Consumables to

Distill and Analyze 40 Samples per Month

$0.00

$500.00

$1,000.00

$1,500.00

$2,000.00

$2,500.00

$3,000.00

$3,500.00

$4,000.00

Midi Dist MICRO DIST CNSolution

Estimated Annual Cost for Reagents to

Distill and Analyze 40 Samples per Month

$0.00

$500.00

$1,000.00

$1,500.00

$2,000.00

$2,500.00

Midi Dist MICRO DIST CNSolution

Annual Cost for Distillation vs. Non-

Distillation Techniques

$0.00

$5,000.00

$10,000.00

$15,000.00

$20,000.00

$25,000.00

Mid

i D

ist

MIC

RO

DIS

T

CN

So

luti

on

40 /month

100 / month

Comparison of Cost per Sample

by Cyanide Species and Method

$0.00

$5.00

$10.00

$15.00

$20.00

$25.00

$30.00

$35.00

Mid

i D

ist

MIC

RO

DIS

T

CN

So

luti

on

Available

Total

Profit per Sample by Cyanide Species

at $40 per Test

$0.00

$5.00

$10.00

$15.00

$20.00

$25.00

$30.00

$35.00

$40.00

Mid

i D

ist

MIC

RO

DIS

T

CN

So

luti

on

Available

Total

Profit per Month by Cyanide Species

at $40 per Test and 40 Samples per Month

$0.00

$200.00

$400.00

$600.00

$800.00

$1,000.00

$1,200.00

$1,400.00

$1,600.00

Mid

i D

ist

MIC

RO

DIS

T

CN

So

luti

on

Available

Total

Profit per Shift by Cyanide Species at $40

per Test Based on Maximum Capacity

$0.00$2,000.00$4,000.00$6,000.00$8,000.00

$10,000.00$12,000.00$14,000.00$16,000.00$18,000.00$20,000.00

Mid

i D

ist

MIC

RO

DIS

T

CN

So

luti

on

Available

Total

Estimated Profit by Number of Samples

Analyzed at Maximum Capacity

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

$800,000

40 100 200 400 800 1600

Samples per Month

Pro

fit

pe

r Y

ea

r

MICRO DIST

Midi Dist

Thoughts Regarding “Break Even” Analysis

• Manual distillation and manual

spectrometer versus CNSolution

– Manual equipment costs 3 x less

– CNSolution profit 3 x higher per test

• Break Even = 1000 samples for both!

• That’s 20 samples per week regardless

Benefits

Distillation / Colorimetry

GD-Amperometry

In summary, distillation/colorimetry should be replaced

Thank You

Questions?

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